Fishing reel spool



H. IQMANDOLF FISHING REEL SPOOL Sept. 8 1953 Filed Sept. 26, 1949 INVENTOR; Manda/f Henry BY 0121) Patented Sept. 8, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FISHING REEL SPOOL Henry Ikarus Mandolf, San Diego, Calif., assignor to Langley Corporation, San Diego, Calif., a corporation of California Application September 26, 1949, Serial No. 117,837

This invention relates to fishing reels and more particularly to improvements in spools therefor.

It is well known in the art that the performance characteristics of bait casting reels are determined primarily by the weight of the rotating parts thereof. Therefore to obtain an marked or useful gain in performance it becomes necessary to effect or arrive at a reduction in this weight. This, however, necessitates the exercise of great care in design since the reduction in weight to be of value must be accomplished without sacrifice of strength of parts. The major portion of the rotating weight of a fishing reel is embodied in the spool, and it is here that a reduction in weight most advantageously can be effected.

It is therefore an object of this inventionto provide an improved construction for a fishing reel spool which permits of a substantial saving in the weight thereof without any sacrificing of its capacity or its strength.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel spool for a level winding casting reel hav ing a minimum moment of inertia and which will have no undue backlash tendencies.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a fishing reel spool which embodies a relatively large diameter line supporting drum to the opposite ends of which are connected novel discs having an improved construction permitting reduction in the weight thereof.

With the introduction of new forms of high strength fishing lines, made of nylon andsimilar material, new problems in design have been presented. The new lines are relatively very elastic in comparison to the old forms of fishing lines and as a result will be of a much greater than normal'length when wound upon a spool while in wet condition. These new lines on drying will contract a relatively great amount and in this process move longitudinally upon thedrum of the spool to apply substantial forces against theend discs. The discs must be capable of withstanding these forces without collapsing, tearing free of the drum, or, under excessive deflection, affecting' the small surrounding clearances. Another difliculty involved in the use of the, new fishing lines arises out of the very small diameters which these new lines may assume. The small diameter lines are more apt to slip ofi the spool over the discs to move into recesses in the fishing reel end plates and become jammed between the discs and the end plates with consequent cutting or serious damage tothe lines. Y

The present invention thereforehas for Of ill 5 Claims. (Cl. 242-123) its objects the provision of a fishing reel spool which has an improved form of construction adapting it for use with the high strength, small diameter fishing lines, the discs and drum comprising the spool effectivelywithstanding the substantial forces applied thereto by this type of line. At the same time the spool will be of lighter weight than known spools. Such improved form of construction contemplates the use of discs of novel form which may be built to closer tolerances than formerly whereby less clearance is provided between the discs and the fishing reel end plates consequently lessening occurrences of jammed fishing lines.

Another object of the invention lies in providing a fishing reel spool embodying improved form which are constructed to adapt the discsto more effectively maintain a fishing line thereon; and which discs further embody a construction making the discs capable of deflecting the fishing line, should it slip from the spool, to prevent jamming of the'line.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved fishing reel spool of the character set forth which is inexpensive to produce but has great strength and is effective and eflicient in operation.

Other objects and features of the present invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following specification and appended drawings wherein is illustrated a preferred form of the invention, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a spool constructed in accordance with the present invention and embodied in a conventional fishing reel which is shown in broken lines.

Figure 2v is a view of the parts forming the spool, with certain parts in section, and illustrating one spool flange secured to the drum, and the other spool flange separate therefrom.

Figure 3 is a front view of a spool flange as it appears prior to attachment to the drum.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmental section illustrating the relationship of a spool flange and the juxtaposed fishing reel end plate.

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of a spool flange constructed in accordance with the present invention; and V Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmental sectional view showing a modified spool flange and its relation to a juxtaposed fishing reel end plate.

Referring now with more particularity to the drawings, there is shown in Figure 1 a fishing reel indicated generally by the numeral I0, and,

illustrated by broken lines. Operatively sup-.

3 ported in the fishing reel Iii is the spool l I of the present invention, which is shown in full lines.

The spool H of this invention is intended for use with conventional fishing reels and the particular fishing reel illustrated in broken lines in the drawings is but a preferred form. The reel Ill includes a frame [2 comprised essentially of a head plate L3, a tail "plate l4, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced pillars l5 interconnecting the two plates I3 and 14, to maintain them in required spatial relationship. An annular housing member l6 mounted on the head plate 13 supe ports a bearing H; a secondbearing I8 is carried upon tail plate M. The bearings H and H} cooperate to journal suitably the spool 11 for rotation within the frame I2.

A level wind mechanism of conventional construction comprising the usual traversing line carriage and line carriage shaft, neither shown, is arranged on the reel frame I2 above the spool I l. A transversely extending housing 2| sup ported between and by the head plate 13 and tail plate H encloses the line carriage and its shaft. The traversing line carriage includes 'a line guide eye 22 which extends over the housing 2! and is movable back and forth between the head plate 3 and tail plate 14. The line guide eye 22 engages the incoming fishing line and causes it to be uniformly wound on the spool I l as the line is reeled in and the line guide'e'ye 2-2 travels between the spaced plates 13 and 14. A double-handled winding crank 23, rotatably supported on annular housing member '16, drives the level wind mech anism and the spool I I through a suitable gearing system, not shown, disposed within annular housing "member F6.

The "spool H comprises a drum 24, a pair of similarly constructed dished fla'n-g'e members or discs 25 and'26 positioned contiguous the opposite ends of the drum 24, and -a cylindrical shaft 21 located concentrically to drum 24. v

The drum 24 embodies a hollow-,rclafively large diameter, integral cylinder 28 provided with a plurality of perforations 29 for lightening the weight thereof. The drum 24 may be 'composedof any suitable light weight material but is preferably made of aluminum, which is selected for it's favorable strength to weight ratio. The drum 24 is formed with the opposite ends-31 and 32 there of each provided with a plurality of 'annularl-y arranged, equally spaced, integral, longitudinally extending projecting portions or lugs {3-3.

The series of lugs 33 at the opposite ends 3| and '32 of drum "24 are adapted to be passed through arcuate openings 34 provided in the "discs 1 25 and 25, which discs are positioned adjacent ends 31 and 3 2,'respectiv'ely, 'Theopenings '34 are so annularly arranged in discs 25 and 26 as to conform to the spacing of and to align with the lugs 33 to be received. The-lugs '33 after passing through the openings 34 have the ends thereof swaged to secure them to thed-iscs 25 and Miami thus effect an interlocked relationship "between the drum 24 and the discs2 5'and 2B.

Figure 2 illustrates'the appearance of the ends of the drum '24 priorto andaft'er swagingnf the lugs 33. As shown a series of lugs 33 have been passed through openings 38 in disc 25 and "the endsbf the lu'gs 33 have been deformed to a substantially' larger "outline than the openings 34 to effect a rigid interconnection between drum 24 and disc 25. Disc 261s illusjtrat'ed as spaced from the end '32 of drum 2'4 preparatory to its being moved -contiguous this end 32 to project lugs "33 4 of end 32 into openings 34 in the disc, after which they will be swaged to afiix them to disc 26.

Each of the discs 25 and 26 comprise a base portion 35 and an annular arcuate flange 36. Each flange 36 provides a convex peripheral surface 31 inwardly curving from the vertical plane of annular rim 38 of flange 36 and terminating at the base portion 35. The curving convex surfaces 3''! are each suitably creased to effect a pair of annular troughs or furrows 39 and 40, which are provided for reasons to be explained hereinafter. Trough 139 is located on convex surface 31 adjacent annular rim 3;: and trough 49 is disposed between trough .39 and base portion 35. Providi'n'g 'a'trml h 39 results in the formation of an annular peripheral land 4!. Surfaces 3! of discs 25 and .26 being inwardly curved toward drum 24 effect directing guide surfaces which tend to force a fishing line downwardly toward the drum 24 as it is being wound upon drum 24.

Reduction in weight of the spool H of the present invention .is attained by reducing the weight of the discs 25 and 26. The discs 25 and 2B are formed of a light-weight material, preferably aluminum. This invention contemplates and intends the useof aluminum in very thin gages, preferably .020 inch orless. Because of the small clearances desired between land M and the fishing reel end plates to prevent jamming of the fishing line, as will be more fully hereinafter described, it essential that the flange have maximum concentricitmor substantially true cir- 'cular form. :However, informing material of this minimal thickness in order to provide an annular con-vex arcua'te peripheral flange 36 it has been found that concentricity of the flange is 'extremely difficult of attainment due to the natural spring-back of the metal after it has been formed. The desired concen-tricity for flanges 35 has been attained in this invention by breaking the grain of the metal used for making the flanges 35. Breaking of the grain of the metal is achieved by the provision of the two annular creasesor troughs as and '46 in the curving convex surfaces 31. These creases 39 and 40, it has been found, will eliminate the natural springback or elasticity of the metal and make it possible to form, by stamping, or in any other well known manner, a thin :gage flange of true dimen- 'sion's.

While two creases or troughs 39 and 40 have been shown herein, it is understood that a greater number ofcreases could be formed in the flange 36 which will assist in obtaining the concendesired. It has been found that the use of two creases alone will effect :a disc having true dimensions.

As shown in Figure 1, with spool H in operative position within reel frame 12, disc '25 is positioned juxtaposed to tail plate I4 and disc 26 lies juxtaposed to head plate I3. Figure 4 illustrates the relative positions of tail plate l4 and disc 25 It is understood that the relationship b'etween *disc 26 and head plate I3 is the same as that between disc 25 and tail plate [4 and therefore the following discussion of tail plate f4 and disc "25 is applicable also to disc 26 and head plate 13.

statedhereinbefore providing the trough 39 in the convex-surface '31 of flange 36 adjacent itsouter rim results in the formation of an annular land 4 which surrounds the entrance to the concave -01- =open faceof the disc. With disc 25 positioned adjacent tail plate l4 its annular land 41 is projected into an annular groove 42 groove 42 and then fall back formed in the rear surface or face 43 of the tail plate l4. As seen in the drawings, the disc 25 is so positioned that its annular trough 39 is located outside of the plane of rear surface 43 of plate I 4. Trough 39 in addition to eliminating metal spring-back has a secondary purpose. It provides a receptacle within which a fishing line may naturally fall should it ride up on surface 3'|. Thus trough 39 effectively lessens the possibility of a line being forced into the crevice defined by the juxtaposed flange 36 and tail plate l4. Locating the trough 39 outside of the plane of rear face 43 of tail plate l4, as stated, is advantageous in that the defining walls 44' of the trough 39 will be properly positioned to deflect a line upwardly, should it by chance leap from the trough 39, to impinge against that portion of the rear face 43 which is above the annular on to theconvex surface 31 of the flange 36. e 1

The annular land 4| located at the largest diameter of flange 36, serves as a means for effecting a concentricity correction should it by chance be required after the spool has been assembled. This correction is attained by machining the peripheral surface 50 of land 4| an amount necessary to effect the desired concentricity with the journal portions of shaft 21.

Shaft 21 of spool H is positioned concentrically relative to drum 24 and discs 25 and 26 and is suitably connected to the discs 25 and 26 to provide a support for spool Each of the discs 25 and 26 have formed in their base portions 35 a central opening 45, Three notched openings 46 extend from this central opening 45 to efiect three annularly arranged flange portions 41. The discs 25 and 26 are positioned upon either end of the elongated integral steel shaft 21 by fitting the central openings 45 thereof over turneddown' annular shaft portions 48 formed on shaft 27. After being fitted upon shaft portions 48 the discs 25 and 26 are moved inwardly until their flange portions 41 abut spaced annular supporting shoulders 46formed on shaft 21 adjacent the annular shaft portions 48. Excessive length is provided the annular shaft portions 48 which permits a rolling, or spinning, operation to deform the material of the shaft portions 48 to force this material over the flanges 41, upon the area of the base portion 35, immediately sur rounding opening 45, and into the'notches 46 thereby securely locking thediscs 25 and 26 to the shaft 21. The opposite ends of shaft 2! are formed into suitable bearing portions 5| and 52, which are adapted to be journaled in the bearings I1 and I8 mounted on head plate I 3 and tail plate I 4 to rotatively mount the shaft 21.

Figure 6 illustrates a modification of this invention wherein the discs provided for attachment to the ends of the drum have been changed in certain details of their construction. A modified disc 53 is shown which comprises a base portion 54, and an annular arcuate flange 55 having an inwardly curving convex peripheral surface 56, with an annular trough or crease 51 formed in the surface 56 adjacent base portion 54. In surrounding relationship to the entrance to the open face of the disc 53 there is provided an outwardly projecting annular flange portion 58, directed substantially perpendicularly or transverse to the axis of disc 53 and having an outer annular face 6| andan inner annular face 62, in parallel. When disc'53 is juxtaposed to an end plate of a fishing reel, as shown in Figure 6 wherein the end plate is indicated by the numeral 63, the outwardly projecting annular-flange portion 58 extends into groove 64 only so far as to position its=outer annular face 6| therein; but the opposite annular face 62 is spaced from or at most located substantially in the plane of rear face 65 of end plate 63. The rear annular face 62 will serve todeflect a fishing lineu'pwardly to strike the rear face 65' of endplate"63*and thereby prevent the line entering into thespace between the annular flange portion 58 and end latess I,

Providing the annular trough 51 and the out wardly extending annular-flange 58 *results'in th'e'convexsurface 56 of disc 53 being severely deformed. This deformation breaks the-grain of'the metal used in the disc along two-circular 'pathsn-"One path lies along the annular'trough 51' and the other path or crease is provided by the annular intersection, indicatedby numeral 66, of outwardly extending annularflange 58 with convex surface 56, and this latter crease results when annular flange 58 is bent to project at a "severe angle to convex surface 56. Breaking the grain of the metal, as described, will eliminate the natural spring-back or elasticity of the metal and make it possible to form disc 53 with true concentricity. If concentricity correction should be required the annular peripheral face 61 can be machined an amountnecessary to securing the desired concentricity. In this respect outwardly projecting flange 58.-is similar-to annular land 4| of discs 25 and-26. v

Fromthe above description, it is apparent that disc 53 is similar to discs 25 and 26 in most respects. It has a base portion 54, corresponding to base portion of the first described discs,

and it also has anwannular a-rcuate flange 55 which is provided with an-inwardly curving convex peripheral surface 56. However, where discs 25 and 26 employ two annular troughs 39 and 46 to crease the metal to break the grain thereof, the disc 53 achieves breaking of the graintthrough formationof outwardly projecting annular flange portion 58 and the trough 51.

- There has been described herein anovelform of, spool for use in fishing reels which is characterized by its lightness, strengthand simplicity.

Themethod and construction used'for securing the, discs to each end of the drum and of attaching the shaft to the discs results in a particularly rigid device well adapted for use with highstrength, elastic, small diameter, fishing lines. The new construction of this invention utilizes for the discspermits the use of very thin gage lightweight metal thereby to reduce the weight of the spool and result in a device having'a minimum moment of inertia. The preferred light-weight metals employed by the invention for the discs are aluminum alloys and magnesium alloys'because of their f-avorable'strength. Concentricity of the discs is readily secured in this invention allowing the proper positioning of thediscs relative to the fishing'reel end plates so that there is less possibility of jamming the fishing line'in'fa crevice.. The discs further are formed tore'nde r them particularly effective for deflecting fishing I line away from a crevice.

parent to thoseskilled inthe art and the invention is to be given its broadest possible interpreta- 1 tion within the terms of the following claims.

assign carried area said seamen said discss n .n e; a rigs and an annu ar s ea s are? P rt on ins a. neri s r i s rises said ann la resonate sages po tion hatin as a; creas marinas i s ssins sal s r ace thrones ali ned open n s: nrovidcd or said disc and to he ained to. discs r gid-1r connec said dis siesaiddrum,

'2 A reel spool c mprising-an elon ated a Bair i discs formed of thin gage metal nsri'icd upon a d shaft in spaced relation tonne another. and a hollow cylindrical drum in con.- .cen ric r lation with said shaft interconnectin saiddiscs. said discs each comprising a-hase pox-.-

ticn and an annular a cuate flange portion ilfix adjacent to, said drum, said annular arcuate flan e po tion, ha ing an annular crease provided adia cnt its outer rim and a. second annular crease provided between the first annular vcrease and the, :base portion, said base portions of said discs each having an opening centrally there- .throu h and a plurality of annularly arranged inte ral flangeportionslextending into said open- .spaced annular shoulders on said shaft against which said annularly arranged integral vflange portions abut when said discs are disposed 91 said shaft, said integral flange portions being nflixedto said shaft by material thereof engaging said integral flange portions.

8. A fishing reel spool comprising an elongated shaft, 9, pair of discs formed of thin gage metal carrisd upon said shaft in spaced relation-to one another and facing in opposite directions, said discs each comprisinga base. portion and an an- ;iular arcuate flange portion having a convex peripheral surface curving inwardly and a concave suriace facing outwardly, said annular arcnate flange Portion having an annular land surrounding theentrance. to said concave surface and having a pair of annular creases provided in the perinheral convex surface, with one of said creases located adjacent said annular land and with the o her crease lo ated between the first gisniionsd rease and the base o tion. and a ho l w cy indrical drum i consent, sa d shsii lis n i s ur ac nes aied and being i a d er r la i el mi es the iame e o sa hari. nt s a i f ieq as se n s extend g ara l l t the longitu na axis, oithe d um prov ded at o pos te endsioi said 13 .31 adap ed to xten thr u h aligned S??- n s pr ided by a di s. to be aris s is" th discs rigidly to connect said discs to said drurn.

4. A fishing reel spool comprising an elongated shart, a pair of discs formed of thin gagernetal carried upon said shaft in spaced relation to one another facing in opposite directions, said discs each comprising a base portion and an annular arcuatefiange portion having a convex peripheral s rface curving inwardly and aconcave s ro said strait.

i en sa e lie ins g iwardlri sa d arouat mass. an cs was, nnular an ur ound- 15 s. he sai con ave sur a e nd h ng Pa r 9 presid d in the was i Q mentioned and the ba s roman aid bas a a es at d disg e i ha ing a a sin geeisa ir mess and a pl r lit i anon sasssdi or ass ns e. rc si o said can: salar es o est rs i awning mended br a d d scs. n be aids; l. to th d ss r id to goinc i said disc to said discs.-v

a reek an el compris n an el sated ni s al i iii a. pair at iscs or a th . it v ann ilarl ndsarrognds e irag eic said suriaceand bara ir o annula eases or rideii in the s siri a sl scares with one of: said r ases lowed a iacen Said; annular.- land and t e othe Qrease loe ta between the firs ease and Elie-base cordon; said base 2c PR 0; said. each having onen ns cent ' i (L-157M519, issisnaeed annular shoulders on si a a nst W aid annclarlyi arranged igi eial flange gortions asst when saic. discs, are disr ssa ha t, said i te ral: flan e nor ii s ains amass; to said snark by material ihaseqi e ga in aid inte ral flange portions, n -a Hallow-integral.- cy'lindr cai drum concens E2161 it ilfi said.- .snait; having its surface narienaisd nd. some at a diameterrelatively 2 2 nan asiametcroi said shaft, nie sal; a ciss s po t ons eat-endin narallel to 15 axis. at he drum provided at q. i, said drum adanted to extend l ali ned oneness,- Provided: by said discs I C in ai osaigid r to connect said t said-dism- ZKARUS: MANDoLn. 

